Solar heater.



H. L. PORESMAN SOLAR HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 191i .within the unit.

' ED sTArns PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. FORESMAN, OF SAN DIMA S; CALIFORNIA.

SOLAR HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A151. 21, 1914,

Application aiedna 17, 1913. Serial No. 7es,s4

To (1H in}; am it may concern 1 Be it known thatl. HARRY L. FonnsMA v,

a citizen of the United States, residing at invention isto provide a construction which' is efficient, durable in use, of economical construction, and which will be very effective in heating the water.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a building, showing diagrammatically, one manner of installing the heater. Fig. 2 is-a plan view of the heater. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the heater with the transparent cover removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line :v"a*, Fig. 2, showing the heater as tilted when installed. for use. Fi 5 is an enlarged section on line w w Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a per-' spective View ofthe end of one of the heating units. Fig. 7 is a perspective ofthe end of a retaining bar. Fig. 8"is a perspective of the end of a supporting bar.

The heater consists of one or more heating units 1, each heating unit being com- .posed preferably of a single piece of plate or sheet metal which is bent to form an upper member comprising two upper sur; faces 2 and 3 extending at an angle to each other, in the form of an inverted V, and a lower member comprising two lower surfaces 4 and 5 extendingat an angle to each other in the form of an inverted V, and extending within the V-shaped surfaces 2 and 3 of the. upper member, saidupper and lower members bein spaced apart by copper wires 6, the latter being extended through the plates and also helping to con-, duct heat to'the water which is contained To further stiffen the plates I may employ bolts '7 as indicated in Fig. 4. All seams and crevices are soldered or otherwise closed to prevent leakage of water. The units are arranged within a box 8, the latter having a non heat conducting lining 9 formed of felt or other preferred material to retain as" much heat as possible within the box and causc'it to.

sists of a series of glass plates 11 which are down outside the'retaining bar and secure the retaining bar in position, which holds the glass plates in place. The supporting bars are secured to afraine 17. the ends of which are turned over flanges 18 on the box 8, and the ends of the frame 17 are also turned over at 19 to securethe edges of the glass plates 11, putty or felt lining making it waterproof.

In each end of each unit is a nipple 20. Where several units are employed in one heater, as shown in the present drawings, they may be arranged as indicated in Fig.

4, with their bottom edges resting upon the bottom of the; box, the units being parallel with each other and their nipples connected I by pipes 21 at one end and by pipes ,22 at the other end, thesepipes being provided with unions, as shown, so as to permit of separation of the units when desired. A pipe 23 serves to conduct water to the lower unit and a pipe 24 conducts the heated water from the upper unit to the bottom of a storage tank 25 which may be located at any desired point, as for example, in an elevated position as indicated.

26 is a supply pipe which conducts cold water to the heater and which becomes thereby warmed to an extent before passing to the heater. 27 is the pipe conducting water from the storage tank to the place where it is to be used.

It will be understood that the heater may be connected in any desired way, but that as herein shown, there will be a circulation of the water from the heater to the storage tank 25 and thence back to the heater, with the result that the body of water within the tank 25 is kept at a high temperature.

By locating the units with their surfaces 2 and 3 in the angular position shown, these surfaces will receive the rays of the sun at angles more nearly perpendicular than if they were all on the same plane. That is i which is exposed to the sun.

The water in the heating units is heated from the top surfaces as stated, and it is also heated from the bottom surfaces, the

the bent up.v bottom surfaces. also conducted to the water by the copper rivets or wires 6, and by the bolts 7.

What I claim is:

1. In a solar heater, a heating unit comprising a sheet metal upper member bent to form two surfaces extending at an angle to one another, in the form of an inverted V, and a, sheet-metal lower member bent to form two lower surfaces extending in the form of an inverted V within the V- shaped upper member, end portions connecting said upper and lower members and forming therewith a closed chamber, and

inlet and outlet means in said end portions.

2. In a solar heater, a heating unit comprising two outer plates at an angle to each other, two iner' plates at an angle to each other and separated from the outer plates to form'a receptacle for water, means for the inlet and discharge of water, and U- shaped Wires extendingthrough said plates, the inner ends of the wires beingbent to brace the plates, said wires also acting to conduct heat to the water within the unit.

8. In a solar heater a series of heating units, each unit comprising a shallow box with its outer exposed surface in two planes at an angle to each other, a box inclosing said unit, a cover for said box comprising transverse supporting bars with horizontal flanges, glass plates resting on said flanges, and retaining bars with V-cross sections nesting on said supporting bars and retaining said glass plates,

4. In a solar heater, aseries of heating units, each unit comprising a shallow box with its outer exposed surface in two planes at an angle to each other, a box inclosing I i 5 said unit, a cover for said box comprising hot air circulating in the spaces beneath The heat 'is 1 transverse supporting bars with horizontal flanges, glass plates resting on said flanges, retaining bars with V-cross sections nesting on said supporting bars and retaining said glass plates, and iooks on the supporting bars projecting up through slots in the retaining bars, and bein bent over the retaining bars to secure t iem in position. In a solar heater, a series of heating units, each unit comprising a shallow box with its outer exposed surface in two planes at an angle to each other, a box inclosing said unit, a cover for said box comprising transverse supporting bars with horizontal flanges, glass plates resting on said flanges. retaining bars with V-cross sections nesting on said supporting bars and retaining said glass plates, said box having flanges, and a frame with its edge portions folded over said box flanges, said frame also being folded over the outer glass edges.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles California this 9th day of May, 1913.

HARRY L. FORESMAN.

In presence of GEORGE T. HACHLEY, LoRA M. Bownus, 

